Sandy Ho
By Sandy Ho
SYLP student
Kacey Long closes her eyes tightly while lying bare naked on the cold operating table. She starts breathing heavily in the dim, barren room. In a moment, she will be sliced open with knives in hopes of improving her appearance.
With millions going under the knife, plastic surgery has become common.
However, many women suffer problematic health conditions and deformities as a result of this disillusioned idea of the perfect and ideal body. The vast media cause people to think that surgery is the only way to become the perfect woman. Why should society make women feel unworthy and useless?
Plastic surgeons have profited in the billions. Surgery has become so common that parents give their teenagers plastic surgery for graduation presents.
Kacey says, “I wish I had never done it. I couldn’t lift up my arms. It disabled me for a year.” Teens who want implants aren’t aware that they are still going through puberty, and with surgery, it can greatly damage organs.
Magazine models and television shows such as “Extreme Makeover” and “Dr. 90210” serve as propaganda that promotes plastic surgery. These shows have made society more open to this idea.
Some people believe that teens can gain higher self-esteem with plastic surgery. But in reality, plastic surgery is just a luxury unless the person getting it is physically impaired.
Also, non-surgical procedures can be damaging to the body. Botox injections are made up of toxins. If pharmacists haven’t properly looked over the procedure, botox can be very hazardous and even deadly.
Society hides the fact that perfection does not exist. Advertisements are just an illusion because computers have the ability to alter a model’s appearance. People need to stop this slaughter by embracing their inner beauty.
Readers should demand that schools and after-school programs include classes where teenagers can learn the consequences of plastic surgery.
Teenagers can learn to help society by stopping the overwhelming need for beauty.
People need to stop this conformity and instead embrace the diversity that makes this world so beautiful and unique. ♦
Sandy Ho can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.